Priorities for Agricultural Research for Development in Southern Africa

Monica Murata

APPSA Coordinator

1st CCARDESA General Assembly, Gaborone, Botswana

CCARDESA Secretariat

Background

• Regional research needs are many & are determined by several factors:

- Food security- Commercial value- Socio-economic value - Response to regional strategies

• Regional priorities broad & representative of common national priorities

The significance of regional priorities

• Basis for regional research strategy & areas of focus

• Guide resource mobilisation efforts

- Determine the technical areas of resource mobilisation

The significance of regional priorities

• Provide clarity on:

- Status and pertinent issues

- challenges

- opportunities

• Basis for regional research strategy & areas of focus

• Guide resource mobilisation efforts

- Guide the depth and width of resource allocation

- Determine the technical areas of resource mobilisation

Process of identification of priorities

• Carried out by SADC Secretariat & CCARDESA Interim Secretariat => 2yr period (2010 - 2012)

• Partnership with other regional organisations (especially IFPRI & ReSAKSS-Southern Africa)

• Two expert studies carried out

• Used the SADC MAPP documents which:

- identified broad R&D thematic areas

- cross-cutting issues

• Involved wide consultations within the region

Study 1

• Carried out by IFPRI/Regional Strategic Analysis & Knowledge Management System (ReSAKSS)-Southern Africa (2011)

• Objectives:

- identify priorities for investment in agricultural R&D among agricultural commodities

- identify interventions necessary for contributing to increased productivity

Results of Study 1

• Study generated a prioritized list of the most attractive opportunities to generate technology spillovers in the SADC region

• Findings confirmed the Region offers attractive opportunities for regional research efforts- there is potential for finding shared solutions to

common problems.

• Although technology spillover is already occurring, significant potential remains for expanding spillovers.

R&D priorities based on potential contribution to agricultural growth

RANK COMMODITY

1 Maize

2 Cassava

3 Fruit and Veg.

4 Rice

5 Fisheries

6 Cattle

7 Wheat

8 Potato

9 Beans

10 Sorghum

R&D priorities based on regional spillover potential

RANK COMMODITY

1 Maize

2 Rice

3 Cattle

4 Cassava

5 Sorghum

6 Beans

7 Potato

8 Wheat

9 Fruits and Vegetables

9 Fisheries

Study 2 (2012)

• Objective:

To identify priority areas and activities for R&D investment along the entire value chain within individual priority commodities.

• Study organised in four key areas:

- Crops

- Livestock

- Forestry

- Fisheries

Key Priorities - Crops

1. Priority Breeding/crop variety development

- developing high yielding varieties

- tolerance to pests and diseases

- Resilience to climatic stress

- Improving nutritional value

- heat & low soil fertility

2. Soil fertility and plant nutrient management

3. Improving seed supply and quality

4. Promotion of water harvesting technologies

5. Linking farmers to markets

Key priorities – Crops (cont.)

Post harvest management of crops- Agro-processing, food safety and value

addition - Appropriate storage structures (rodent-

proof and insect-proof storage structures.

Mitigating the impact of climate change

Key priorities – Livestock

1. Enhancing rangeland quality & H2O resource management.

2. Characterization of indigenous stock, with the view to promoting the use of local stock in selective breeding.

3. Upgrading of the indigenous stocks, through coordinated crossbreeding

4. Control & eradication of TransboundaryAnimal Diseases (TAD)

Key priorities - Fisheries

1. Sustainable harvesting & management of marine fisheries;

2. Sustainable harvesting & management of inland fisheries;

3. Enhancing productivity of aquaculture, fish processing, food safety, value addition;

4. Marketing & trade of fish & fish products;

5. Biotechnology & conservation of fish genetic resources;

6. Policy research on aquaculture & fisheries

Key priorities - Forestry

1. Production & sustainable use of natural forests and woodlands for multiple benefits

2. Plantation development with commercial tree species

3. Value-added processing & marketing of wood & non-wood forest products

4. Managing multipurpose trees in cultivated / farmed landscapes for multiple products, including soil fertility improvement.

5. Forests for Ecosystem Services (water, biodiversity, genetic resources & climate change)

6. Policies to support sustainable forest management